Editing Mycorrhiza (section)

===Ericoid mycorrhiza===

[[File:Ericoid mycorrhizal fungus.jpg|thumb|An [[ericoid]] mycorrhizal fungus isolated from ''[[Woollsia pungens]]''<ref name="Midgley">{{cite journal |last1=Midgley |first1=DJ |last2=Chambers |first2=SM |last3=Cairney |first3=J. W. G. |date=2002 |title=Spatial distribution of fungal endophyte genotypes in a Woollsia pungens (Ericaceae) root system |doi=10.1071/BT02020 |journal=Australian Journal of Botany |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=559–565 }}</ref>]]

{{Main |Ericoid mycorrhiza}}

[[Ericoid mycorrhiza]]e, or ErMs, involve only plants in [[Ericales]] and are the most recently evolved of the major mycorrhizal relationships. Plants that form ericoid mycorrhizae are mostly woody understory shrubs; hosts include blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, mountain laurels, rhododendrons, heather, neinei, and giant grass tree. ErMs are most common in [[boreal forest]]s, but are found in two-thirds of all forests on Earth.<ref name="The functional role of ericoid myco"/> Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi belong to several different lineages of fungi. Some species can live as endophytes entirely within plant cells even within plants outside the Ericales, or live independently as saprotrophs that decompose dead organic matter. This ability to switch between multiple lifestyle types makes ericoid mycorrhizal fungi very adaptable.<ref name="Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and their"/>

Plants that participate in these symbioses have specialized roots with no root hairs, which are covered with a layer of epidermal cells that the fungus penetrates into and completely occupies.<ref name="The potential role of Mucoromycotin"/> The fungi have a simple intraradical (growth in cells) phase, consisting of dense coils of hyphae in the outermost layer of root cells. There is no periradical phase and the extraradical phase consists of sparse hyphae that don't extend very far into the surrounding soil. They might form sporocarps (probably in the form of small cups), but their reproductive biology is poorly understood.<ref name="Allen, Michael F 1991"/>

Plants participating in ericoid mycorrhizal symbioses are found in acidic, nutrient-poor conditions.<ref name="Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and their"/> Whereas AMFs have lost their [[saprotrophic]] capabilities, and EcM fungi have significant variation in their ability to produce enzymes needed for a saprotrophic lifestyle,<ref name="The functional role of ericoid myco"/> fungi involved in ErMs have fully retained the ability to decompose plant material for sustenance. Some ericoid mycorrhizal fungi have actually expanded their repertoire of enzymes for breaking down organic matter. They can extract nitrogen from cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, and chitin. This would increase the benefit they can provide to their plant symbiotic partners.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Read |first1=D. J. |name-list-style=amp |first2=J. |last2=Perez-Moreno |title=Mycorrhizas and nutrient cycling in ecosystems—a journey towards relevance? |journal=New Phytologist |date=2003 |volume=157 |issue=3 |pages=475–492 |doi=10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00704.x |pmid=33873410 |doi-access=free }}</ref>